Donovan Applauds Passage of Legislative Package To “Make America Secure Again”
Congressman Dan Donovan (R-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) voted to support a package of appropriations bills to “Make America Secure Again,” last Friday.
The legislation includes funding for the Department of Defense, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Energy and Water Development, the Legislative Branch and $1.6 billion for physical barrier construction to secure the Southern Border.
The package fully funds a 2.4 percent pay raise for the military, including service members at Fort Hamilton – the largest increase in 8 years. It also appropriates $78.3 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to support medical care for 7 million VA patients, including suicide prevention, traumatic brain injury treatment, opioid abuse prevention, and homeless services. The Brooklyn VA Hospital serves a large population of veterans from Staten Island and South Brooklyn.
The legislative package also includes $6.16 billion to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for navigation and flood protection projects (the Corps is actively advancing studies in the New York City area, including a major analysis of flood protection for New York Harbor and tributaries), $68.1 billion increase in funding to the Department of Defense, $84.3 billion investment in research and $149.9 billion investment in equipment and weapons to the armed forces and an increase in funding for enhanced training, equipment and technology to security improvements at Congressional district offices and U.S. Capitol Police. The funding package will now go to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
“The men and women who serve in the armed forces risk their lives, move their families around constantly, and spend precious time away from home. I can’t think of more deserving people for the largest pay raise in 8 years,” said Donovan.
Donovan continued, “We have to secure the border. We’re in an immigration mess right now because millions of people have come into the country without following our legal processes. It’s just common sense for the United States to know who comes and goes. The White House asked for $1.6 billion this fiscal year, and we’re fully funding the request.”
BK Lawmakers Praise Mayor’s 3-K For All Announcement
State Senator Kevin Parker (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington, Windsor Terrace, and Park Slope), City Councilman Rafael Espinal (D-Bushwick, East New York) and Assemblywoman Roxanne Persaud (D-Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Mill Island, Georgetown) praised Mayor Bill de Blasio’s announcement of the first-ever 3-K for All offers last week.
De Blasio announced the first offers to the program last Thursday as part of his Equity and Excellence for All agenda. The city will launch the initiative with the first year of a two-year expansion to create hundreds of new, free, full-day, high-quality seats in School Districts 7 in the South Bronx and 23 serving Brownsville, Ocean Hill and East New York.
Across School Districts 7 and 23, the City will serve approximately 1,600 three-year-olds this fall. Department of Education (DOE) is on track to provide a seat for every three-year-old living in Districts 7 and 23 that wants one by fall 2018. By fall 2020, the City will expand free, full-day, high-quality 3-K for All to at least six additional school districts and expect having universal access by fall 2021.
3-K for All builds on the success of Pre-K for All – through which the City has more than tripled the number of four-year-olds enrolled in free, full-day, high-quality Pre-K – and is part of a broader effort to create a continuum of high-quality early care and education programs for New York City children from birth to five years old.
“Our students deserve to have access to high quality education. Any initiative to improve the educational landscape is a direct investment, which will pay big dividends, since a high quality education is directly linked to strong communities,” said Persaud.
“We know that education impacts economic success and that for too long a quality education was mostly reserved for the few in privileged zip codes. It is time that District 23, which serves Ocean Hill, Brownsville and East New York finally get the focus and resources it deserves so that our students as young as 3 years old– who are among the most economically disadvantaged– have every opportunity for success,” said Espinal.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for parents and students of Community School District 23. Many studies have shown how important early childhood education is for a child’s future, both academically and socially, and I know how much parents appreciate the chance to give their children the head-start they need to succeed,” said Parker.
Lander, Brownstone Belt Lawmakers Support School-Based Health Centers
City Councilman Brad Landers (D-Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington) alongside Brownstone Belt lawmakers are uniting to fight for school-based Health Centers (SBSCs).
The group, which also includes Senator Daniel Squadron (D-Northern Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan) and Assembly Members Jo Ann Simon (D-Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Boerum Hill, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill) and Robert Carroll (D-Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington) has started a petition to Governor Andrew Cuomo and the NYS Department of Health to save SBHCs.
Recently DOH proposed changing the reimbursement rate for SBHCs, cutting funding by $16.4 million (according to the Children’s Defense Fund), which could cause many centers to close.
School-based health centers (SBHCs) are free, on-site, primary care centers that bring vital health services to public school students across New York State. In NYC, there are 145 SBHCs that serve over 345 schools throughout all five boroughs. They provide primary dental, mental, and reproductive health care services, as well as preventative, chronic and other types of care to underserved populations.
Many SBHCs are located in neighborhoods with limited access to health services and as a result, become safety-net providers for immigrants and uninsured kids. In addition, SBHC’s see every child who enters their door regardless of ability to pay. Research shows that these much relied-upon clinics help to decrease absenteeism and parents’ time away from work, and reduce the need for emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
Hamilton Calls On Cuomo To Sign Legislation Aiding Mobility Impaired NYCHA Residents
Senator Jesse Hamilton (D-Central Brooklyn) alongside disability advocates and public housing residents, will call on Governor Andrew Cuomo to sign “First Offer For the Vulnerable” legislation this week.
The “First Offer for the Vulnerable” legislation (S2720) gives mobility impaired tenants of NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) buildings the first offer on vacant apartments in lower floors in public housing.
It passed unanimously in the Senate and overwhelmingly in the Assembly during the 2017 legislative session. The legislation stems from safety concerns and the difficulties mobility impaired tenants have faced getting to and from upper floor apartments.
A resident of nearby 260 Mother Gaston Blvd was killed in a fire in 2007. In 2009, a fire caused the death of a public housing resident of Carlton Manor in Far Rockaway who cared for her child who was confined to a wheelchair.
The event is slated for 12 noon, Thursday, August 3, at the Van Dyke Community Center, 392 Blake Avenue in Brownsville.
